Moneyball 2011 - Michael Lews and Michael Oher

2009 Topps #342 Michael Oher RC (click to enlarge)

There is likely no baseball card for Michael Lewis, in lieu of that I am featuring this Baltimore Ravens Rookie Card of Michael Oher which was featured here in 2009.  Oher is a Tackle for the Ravens and the subject of the Film adaptation of one of Lewis' other books "The Blind Side"

I find it odd timing for the film version of "Moneyball" to surface.  The book is from 2003, the Baseball Draft featured in the book occurred over 9 years ago.  I think at least part of the reason the movie finally got done was the success of "The Blind Side" in 2009.

Michael Lewis is a gifted writer, and  have read several of his books - many of which are related to business and finanacial tycoons.  He takes what otherwise may be a dry subject and adds interesting and funny insights and anectdotes.

  

While Moneyball is a non-fiction work, inevitably part of the story and the Moneyball version of Billy Beane is the creation of Michael Lewis.  One can give you straight facts, but the author still chooses which facts to keep and which to ignore and Billy Beane comes out of Moneyball pretty favorably - the same cannot be said of field Manager Art Howe.  The Paul DePodesta character goes by a different name in the film version of the story as DePodesta would not sign off on the veracity of the script. 

Michael Oher

The Blind Side was a box office success and can currently be seen on cable movie channels.  Micheal Oher has also proven to be a success at the NFL level as well starting all 32 games for the Baltimore Ravens in his first two seasons.  Oher has written (w/ Don Yaeger) his own Biography "I Beat the Odds".  

Moneyball 2011

Past Moneyball 2011 related posts:

Billy Beane

etc

Here is a link to a Moneyball and Collecting related article in Beckett that I first saw referenced by Chris Olds via Twitter. 

Phiadelphia Sports and Memorablia Show returns September 23rd - 25th

The Fall edition of the Philly Show returns to the Valley Forge Convention Center next weekend - September 23-25th.  Unfortunately events have conspired against Team Phungo this year and I will not be makeing the show.

I am a bit amazed that we are just over a week away from the event and the Philly Show website has not been updated with autograph guest info.  The show is run by Hunt Auctions who one would think would be responsible enough to try and get info out to their site in a timely manner - I would have to think the vendors for the show cannot be happy with Hunt's lack of advertising. 

They did send out post cards via snail mail that have event info though. 

1993 Topps #371 Mariano Duncan (image stolen from Baseball Card Database)

Saturday 9/24 is the Baseball Auto Day featuring HOFs Bill Mazeroski and Pat Gillick.  Phillies Alums scheduled include Mariano Duncan (93 NL Champion Phils), Dickie Thon, Tommy Herr, Tony Taylor, Jay Johnstone, and Ollie Brown.  WBC Heavyweight Champion (1978-83) Larry Holmes and Internation Boxing HoF member Larry Holmes is also scheduled for Saturday. 

Curiosly Sunday is Hoop Day - I say curiosly because there appears to be a chance that a large chunck of the NBA season may be lost.  Scheduled guests include Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Artis Gilmore and Dr J. 

No Pricing information was given for the autos at the show.  

NOTE - at every recent Philly Show there has been at least one noteworthy autograph cancellation

Show admission is $8/day ($21 for weekend pass).  The cards mailed by Hunt are good for $1 off, typically local papers will have a similar coupon in the Friday and Sunday sports sections the weekend pior and of the show - of course the paper will cost you at least that much to buy.

If you can't make the Philly Show, don't fret, Collectors Showcase will be running a show the weekend of 11/11 in Oaks. 

In my opinion the CSA show is better then the Hunt Auctions show in Valley Forge, Admission is Cheaper, There seems to be a comparable variety of dealers, Autograph guests were decent with better options for the complimentry auto - Plus you can purchase beer at the convention center in Oaks!

One last card show note, the local card show this weekend is at the Concorde Mall in Wilmington Delaware - I don't see squeezing this weekend in, but I may trek down there on Sunday for a look around.

For general card show info click here

KHL plane crash

As you likely know yesterday there was a plane crash in Russia that killed dozens of passengers including what is believed to be the bulk of the Lokmotiv Team of the Russian KHL Hockey League.

Among the dead is 80s era Philadelphia Flyer Brad McCrimmon - I didn't discover Hockey until the early 90s when I moved to the Philadelphia area, so McCrimmon is before my time - He was on a couple of Flyers teams that went to the Finals and He won a cup with the Calgary Flames. 

Hockey like any sports fraternity  is not that large of a community and I am sure that many people who are involved in the sport at it's highest level are familiar with someone whose life was taken in the crash.  Our sympathies and condolsences to all involved.

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Last year while in Moscow, I was able to attend a KHL game - For some background on Hockey in Russia and a game report click here.  It is a much more upbeat post this one.